John Rylands Library

Rylands Discovery Tour

11:00 - 11:30 17 May 2025
During our Rylands Discovery Tours our staff will travel with you through the library spaces and share the fascinating history of the founding of the library, the breadth of the rare…

The 2025 Sherman Lecture: Moses Gaster; Scholar, Collector, Rabbi, Activist

17:00 - 18:30 20 May 2025
Under the auspices of the Manchester University Centre for Jewish Studies: Professor Philip Alexander “Moses Gaster (1856-1939) – Scholar, Collector, Rabbi, Activist: His scholarly…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 21 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Rare Reads

14:15 - 15:00 21 May 2025
During our Rare Reads facsimile encounters we share beautifully accurate copies of some of our most famous objects. The incredibly rare special collections housed within The John Rylands…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 22 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Rare Reads

14:15 - 15:00 22 May 2025
During our Rare Reads facsimile encounters we share beautifully accurate copies of some of our most famous objects. The incredibly rare special collections housed within The John Rylands…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 23 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Rare Reads

14:15 - 15:00 23 May 2025
During our Rare Reads facsimile encounters we share beautifully accurate copies of some of our most famous objects. The incredibly rare special collections housed within The John Rylands…

In Conversation: Jon Savage and Richard Dyer on The Secret Public

12:30 - 14:00 28 May 2025
Join us at the John Rylands Library for a discussion of Jon Savage’s 2024 book The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Resistance Shaped Popular Culture (1955–1979) and of The Secret Public exhibition…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 28 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Rare Reads

14:15 - 15:00 28 May 2025
During our Rare Reads facsimile encounters we share beautifully accurate copies of some of our most famous objects. The incredibly rare special collections housed within The John Rylands…

Conference: Envisioning Dante: Seeing and Reading the Early Printed Page

09:00 29 - 18:30 30 May 2025
Join us for the concluding conference of the AHRC-funded project 'Envisioning Dante, c. 1472-c. 1630: Seeing and Reading the Early Printed Page', at the historic John Rylands Research…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 29 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Printing Press Demonstration

11:00 - 11:30 30 May 2025
We showcase the use of our antique and fully functional Colombian printing press. Based on the collections, the prints are free to take home after the demonstration. The John Rylands…

Rare Reads

14:15 - 15:00 30 May 2025
During our Rare Reads facsimile encounters we share beautifully accurate copies of some of our most famous objects. The incredibly rare special collections housed within The John Rylands…

Contemporary Gothic Reading Group: Susan Barker on her new novel, Old Soul

15:00 - 16:30 4 June 2025
As part of Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries 2025, Manchester Metropolitan University presents a special edition of its Contemporary Gothic Reading Group. This…

Curator tour: The Secret Public LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985

15:00 - 15:30 5 June 2025
Join us for a tour around our new exhibition led by curator Mat Bancroft. The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985 explores the profound influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists…

Festival of Libraries: 125 Years of The Rylands

11:00 - 16:00 7 June 2025
Join us as we celebrate its 125th birthday. As part of the Festival of Libraries we’ll be taking a trip down memory lane to look at the beginnings of the Library through fascinating…

Collecting, Studying, Controlling Animals in East Asia

10:00 - 12:30 12 June 2025
Join in person or online for an exciting international workshop that explores recent and deep animal histories in East Asia, at their intersections with state power, imperialism, museum…

Murder in Cairo: Solving a Cold War Spy Mystery

17:15 - 19:30 12 June 2025
In collaboration with Creative Manchester, join us for an event celebrating the legacy of Manchester-born Sir Harold Evans (1928-2020), legendary editor, journalist and author. Hear…

A Queer History of Pop: Jon Savage in conversation with Emma Warren

18:30 - 20:30 19 June 2025
Celebrating the release of the new paperback edition of this seminal book, Jon reflects on the various topic's, themes, influences and the creative process of researching and writing…

Collection Encounter: Christian Brethren Archive

16:00 - 16:45 26 June 2025
Join us to explore the remarkable and often unexpected personal stories from the Christian Brethren archive, as we mark the bicentenary of the Brethren movement. Highlights include…

The Christian Brethren Archive: Chief Men Among the Brethren

14:30 - 15:30 26 June 2025
Join us at the John Rylands Library for a lecture on the Christian Brethren, hosted by David Bebbington, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Stirling. The John Rylands…

Curator tour: The Secret Public LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985

15:00 - 15:30 3 July 2025
Join us for a tour around our new exhibition led by curator Mat Bancroft. The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985 explores the profound influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists…

Curator tour: The Secret Public LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985

15:00 - 15:30 7 August 2025
Join us for a tour around our new exhibition led by curator Mat Bancroft. The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985 explores the profound influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists…

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

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